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Ex Utero Electroporation and Organotypic Slice Cultures of Embryonic Mouse Brains for Live-Imaging of Migrating GABAergic Interneurons
Published on: April 20, 2018
CXCR4 and CXCR7 have distinct functions in regulating interneuron migration
Yanling Wang1, Guangnan Li, Amelia Stanco
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. yanling.wang@ucsf.edu
Neuron
|January 12, 2011
Summary
CXCR7, a new receptor, regulates interneuron migration independently and with CXCR4. Both receptors are crucial for guiding neurons to their correct positions in the brain cortex.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling is vital for cortical interneuron migration and positioning.
- CXCR7 is a newly identified receptor for CXCL12, with its role in interneuron migration uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CXCR7 in cortical interneuron migration and laminar distribution.
- To elucidate the distinct and overlapping functions of CXCR4 and CXCR7 in this process.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Cxcr7(-/-) and Cxcr4(-/-) mutant mice.
- Live imaging of interneuron migration.
- In vivo inhibition of Gα(i/o) signaling.
- Assessment of MAP kinase signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Cxcr7(-/-) and Cxcr4(-/-) mutants exhibited similar defects in interneuron positioning.
- Both CXCR4 and CXCR7 are essential for responding to CXCL12 during migration.
- Cxcr4(-/-) and Cxcr7(-/-) mutants displayed opposite defects in motility and leading process morphology.
- CXCL12 stimulation of CXCR7, but not CXCR4, activated MAP kinase signaling.
Conclusions:
- CXCR7 plays a significant role in regulating interneuron migration, both autonomously and non-autonomously.
- CXCR4 and CXCR7 possess distinct signaling pathways and functions in controlling interneuron migration and cortical lamination.
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